Council Message by Mike Cappel
The day was perfect for a morning run near the University of Cincinnati. The sidewalks were shoveled, salted, and dry. I was working to increase my jogging pace, and while keeping my eyes glued on the joggers ahead, I failed to notice a hole in the sidewalk. I tried to balance, but my entire body hit the ground hard. Stunned, I tried to move, and everything worked, but my body was sore. I got up, looked back, saw the hole, and decided to walk the last half mile. No big deal, I thought.
After a shower, I noticed that my joints were swelling, and I had a large bump over my eye. Later, I noticed that I had a black eye. My doctor recommended that I visit the Emergency Room. Luckily nothing was broken, but I sure didn’t feel good! The Emergency Room bill totaled nearly $4,000. Two months later, my knee still hurts; I now wear a brace, and running isn’t fun anymore.
In 2000, the City of Montgomery implemented a master sidewalk program initiative that now includes over 25 miles of sidewalk within Montgomery. Beginning in 2000, the City of Montgomery also appropriated funds each year to repair and maintain our sidewalk network to ensure safety and to prevent unfortunate experiences such as what I encountered. The City inspects one quadrant each year, approximately 6.5 miles, of concrete and brick paver sidewalks for trip hazards, cracks, failing or sinking bricks, or locations where tree roots may have caused damage. Identified areas from inspections, combined with residents or businesses that report sidewalk issues along their frontage, are then repaired. The City of Montgomery currently budgets $48,000 each year for sidewalk inspection and repair as the safety of pedestrians is of the utmost importance to our City Council and staff.
If you see sidewalks in need of repair in the City of Montgomery, notify the City at 513-891-2424.
